FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER: 23 July 2020

IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS

Torbay School Learning Powers – RIC

DEAR PARENTS

Tēnā koutou

Welcome back to school. High winds, rain and bright sunshine. We have had it all this week, however this has not dampened the spirits of staff and children. The school is busy and alive and at last has more of a sense of normalcy about it than I have felt for some time.

There is much planned for the term starting with Matariki celebrations next week. We look forward to you joining our staff and children for the various breakfasts that have been planned throughout the school.

Our Whānau Feedback evenings will be held in week 3 on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday the 5th of August given that our school year has been interrupted so dramatically our Whānau Feedback meetings will be focused initially on children’s wellbeing. Our period in “covid lock down” has emphasised how important the soft skills represented at Torbay School by our Learner Powers and Care values are.

Whānau Feedback conversations will be focused initially on a simple self-assessment that the children will be doing prior to the meeting with the teachers. Following that, conversation will flow into achievement within other curriculum areas, however, with our severely interrupted year and our focus on the wellbeing of our children we have only a small amount of data to base those discussions on.

We look forward to seeing you at our Whānau Feedback evenings, it is not compulsory for children to attend the meetings. Meetings are 15 minutes long and please utilise our creche for siblings. Our crèche is located in the Library.

We have a Teacher only day planned for the 28th of August and thank you for making alternative plans for your children’s care on that day. This will be followed up by another Teacher only day in term 4 on the 27th of October. Both of these days are taken from the days allocated to us by the government in the last collective agreement and are also being taken by the other primary schools in our Kāhui Ako on the same days.

I was pleased to attend the PTA meeting last night. The meeting was well attended and it was great to see this terrific group of people together again planning events for our school. I urge you to become involved with the PTA if you have the time to spare.

All sports are now back in action and Monika Benkovic is working furiously to ensure that every child that wants to get onto the court, the field or in the pool. I look forward to watching the children play their various sports. I also look forward to our school cross country day on Friday the 14th of August.

We also hold our annual book fair in week 3. This is an opportunity to build up the number of children’s books in your home and support the school at the same time. It will be set up in the foyer all week and you are invited to view and purchase books for your children.

I thank you for your continued cooperation around our morning and afternoon protocols. It has made a significant difference to the school, particularly in the mornings where children are settling much faster.

At this time of year more people use their car to bring children to school. In the first instance I urge you to walk your children to school or allow them to walk if they are old enough. Failing that the walking school bus is an option and we would love to see the walking school bus expand to new routes and grow in numbers. If you have to bring your car then I thank you for ensuring that this is done safely. Please do not double park and drop your children outside the school gate. Please do not leave your car unattended in the drop off zone. Please do not park in the middle of the road to wait for access to the drop off zone and please consider safety and others at all times around our school.

On Friday the 31st of July our builders are planning to pour the first stage of the floor of our new building and will need continued access through the Deep Creek Rd Carpark. Please keep the area clear at drop off and pick up times as there will be concrete trucks arriving and departing throughout the day.

Progress on our building is going very well. It is very exciting to see the plans starting to take shape in the ground and I look forward to seeing the structure rise up out of the ground.

Thank you for your continued support for everything we do at Torbay School. Please do not hesitate to contact me on any issue.

My email address is gobrien@torbay.school.nz

Ngā mihi nui
Gary O’Brien
Principal

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

KA PAI to the following students who have shared their fantastic learning with us this week: Baxter Rm 14 Awesome work!

CONGRATULATIONS to the following tamariki who received certificates from their class teachers: Brooklyn, Ceci & Alex R Rm 1, Eva & David C Rm 2, Larissa K & Annaliese M Rm 3, Hao & Lexie Rm 4, Liam F & Lexi C Rm 5, Harley & Ruby Rm 6, Queena & Zoe Rm 7, Zane & Levi Rm 8 Ari & Toby Rm 9, Nathan & Lewis Rm 10, Reuben & Teo, Rm 11, Emma O & Ollie Rm 12, Oliver & Cuba Rm 13, Reuben & Cara Rm 14, Shanelle & Sebastian Rm 15, Taylor & Olivia Rm 16, Kohl & Caitlin Rm 17, Deon & Maddie D Rm 18, Janessa & Harry Rm 19, Maya & Kimiora-Dior Rm 20, Enoch & Rita Rm 21, Tilly & Sonja Rm 22, Casey & Capri Rm 23, Luca & Gordon Rm 24 Emma & Tatiana Rm 25 Well done!!!!!

SCHOOL NOTICES

WELCOME TO TORBAY
A warm welcome to all of our new learners and their families who have joined Torbay School this term.

MEETINGS – The next B.O.T Meeting will be held on Wednesday 5th August @ 7pm in the Staffroom. The next PTA meeting will be held on Monday 12th August @ 7.30pm in staff room – new members welcome. The next New Parent Meeting will be held on Monday 24th August at 9.30am in the Staffroom.

PARENT HELPER TRAINING – A reminder that Parent Helper Training will be on Monday 3rd August at 9.15am in the staffroom. All welcome.

WHOLE SCHOOL ASSEMBLY – Friday 21st August @ 2pm. Presented by Y4 Motuihe & Y5 Waiheke. All welcome!

CELEBRATING MATARIKI – We are celebrating Matariki next week. Your child’s teacher has sent information home, however, you can also check the school website calendar for more information on days and times for your Whānau breakfast/gathering.

KĀHUI AKO TEACHER ONLY DAY – As part of our Professional Learning for this year we will be having a Teacher Only Day on Friday 28th August. The school will be closed for learners on this day. Fun Club will be open. Please contact Sandie or Thelma on 021 399 626 or visit https://www.afterschoolfunclub.co.nz/ to book in.

CROSS COUNTRY – will be held on Friday 14th August Seniors Years 4-6 starting at 9.15am and Juniors, Year 1-3 starting at 1.45pm. Please ensure they have the appropriate shoes for running on this day. We would love to see you there supporting and cheering on the children! So rustle up the family and come along!!

UPCOMING VISIT from Author, Anne Kayes – On Thursday 6th August, Anne Kayes, author of the book, ‘Tui Street Tales’ will be visiting our school to do an exciting and dramatic reading from her books, ‘Tui Street Tales’ and ‘Tui Street Heroes’ with the Year 3 – 6 students. Anne doesn’t charge for these visits, but will be coming back to school to sell books to any keen students and to personally sign them too! This will be happening in the office foyer between 8.30am – 9am on Monday 10th August. Books prices are $17/$20 – cash only.

Here’s a link to the review of her first book, ‘Tui Street Tales’: NZ Herald ‘Tui Street Tales’ book review. Here is the link to the Radio New Zealand review by Louise Ward of the latest book, ‘Tui Street Heroes’: Book review – Tui Street Heroes by Anne Kayes | RNZ.

TERM 3 WHĀNAU FEEBACK EVENINGS – We will be holding Whānau Feedback evenings on the following dates:

Tuesday 4 August: Yr 1-6 – 2:45pm to 8pm
Wednesday 5 August: Yr 1-6 – 2:45pm to 5:30pm

School will close at 3pm on both days. Please note: On both Whānau Feedback days all children will be dismissed from the hall. All Year 1 and 2 students will need to be collected by their caregiver from the hall at 3pm.

We will be using an internet booking system (www.schoolinterviews.co.nz) to book appointments. The booking code is grv9q if you do not have access to the internet to make a booking, please phone the office on 473 8603 ext 2 between the hours of 10am to 2.30pm to arrange this. More information will be sent home with your child soon.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR – Don’t forget to pop on over to the Scholastic Book Fair, it runs from Friday 31st July through to 6th August in the Office Foyer. Open during office hours – 8:30am – 3:30pm with late nights on Whānau Feedback days – Tues 4th Aug til 8pm and Wed 5th til 5.30pm It’s the perfect opportunity to buy your child a book to read at home! All sales will assist our school library as Scholastic donates a percentage of all sales to our school!

SCHOLASTIC LUCKY BOOK ORDERS – ISSUE 5 – Lucky book order forms have gone home. The closing date for orders is Friday 7th August at 3pm. Orders can be done online at https://mybookclub.scholastic.co.nz/Parent.aspx Thank you for your support. Every order helps the school get valuable resources for our School.

TORBAY SCHOOL SPORTS HOODIE ORDER – If your child plays sport for the school and you would like to purchase one they are available on the online shop under the sports tab. Orders will be closing on Thursday 6th August @ 3pm. This will be the last order for 2020. These hoodies can be worn at any Torbay School sports event (Rippa, Netball Tournaments etc) but not as a replacement for our school uniform.

PHOTOLIFE PORTRAITS/CLASS PHOTOS/SIBLING PHOTOS – MONDAY 24th AUGUST 2020 PhotoLife flyers will be handed out to students with information about the online ordering system in the coming weeks. Every child will be photographed individually and in their class group. When photos are ready for printing, students will bring home their own unique shoot key. Simply follow the steps to view and purchase your photos.

Sibling photos require a form to be filled out prior to photo day. We expect these forms to arrive from PhotoLife a couple of weeks prior to photo day, these will be available to collect from the school office or if you emailed your request in Term 2 they will be sent home with the eldest child as soon as we receive them. All forms must be returned to school before photo day.

PHOTOLIFE SPORT TEAMS PHOTO SHOOT – Tuesday 25th August, PhotoLife will be here to take photos of all our Torbay School Sports teams on Tuesday 25th August. Children are to bring their sports uniform to school on this day. If you are a coach or manager and wish to be in the photo please let the office know.

ENROLMENT AT NORTHCROSS INTERMEDIATE FOR YEAR 6 CHILDREN: Y6 children will be visiting Northcross on Friday 7th August from 9am to 1pm for orientation. A Parent Information Evening will take place on Wednesday 12th August starting at 6pm at Northcross Intermediate. Enrolment week is Monday 24 August – Friday 28th August and Torbay School has been allocated Tuesday 25th August between 7.30am and 10.00am and 3.00pm to 6.00pm as their enrolment time. A notice will be sent home with the Year 6 children soon giving full details of the enrolment events.

GENERAL REMINDERS

SCHOOL FEES
A reminder that if you are paying off your annual activity fees and donations – instalment 3 was due on the first day of term.

Donation (1 child) $45 per instalment
Donation (2 children) $80 per instalment
Donation (3 or more children) $107.50 per instalment.

Electronic statements will be sent out tomorrow showing any unpaid amount on your account (the system automatically sends these with the email subject line of Request for Payment). This is a chance to check that our records agree with yours. Please contact accounts@torbay.school.nz if you have any queries.

PAYMENT OPTIONS
Payments can be made by cash/cheque, EFTPOS, credit card (add $1) at the school office, or electronically through our online shop. This can be reached through the SHOP button on the school website’s homepage www.torbay.school.nz.
RECEIPTS
Also a reminder that the school’s receipt policy is to only issue receipts for donations, school fees paid by cash or on request.

BRINGING YOUR BALL TO SCHOOL – A number of children bring their own ball to school, this is fine, however, we ask that it is clearly named and that they bring it in a bag to and from school. It is important to remind your child not to bounce their ball at the gate before school opens, this poses a safety risk to our tamariki with it accidentally bouncing onto the road.

SCHOOL LUNCHROOM – The School Lunchroom is open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

ENROLMENTS 2020/21 – If your child, (or someone you know has a child who lives in the Torbay School zone) and is turning 5 within the next 12 months, please urgently complete an enrolment application (available from our website or at the school office).

HEALTH ROOM REMINDERS – Please do not send any children to school who are unwell.

VOMITING/DIARRHOEA: Any children who have had vomiting or diarrhoea must not return to school until 24 hours after the last episode.
HIGH TEMPERATURES: For more information about fevers Click here
HEAD LICE: Check your children for head lice. Children with eggs or lice will be sent home for treatment.

SECOND HAND UNIFORM SHOP – The shop will be open to purchase second hand uniforms on the following dates: Thursday 13th August and 17th September from 8:30am-8:55am and 3pm—3.30pm just inside the hall by the office. Hats are not compulsory for terms 2 & 3, however, if you wish to purchase a new hat they are available at the school office for $14. We are always in need of good condition uniforms for the second hand shop, therefore, if you have some that you wish to donate, please drop them off at the office.

SCHOOL ABSENCES – Please remember to contact the school office if your child is going to be absent from school.

You can do this by one of the following:

Phone: 473 8603 Ext 1
Email: absences@torbay.school.nz
Website: Report an Absence form. Click here

Below are Torbay’s School Uniform items – please ensure that students are following these requirements.

Please note:

School bucket hats (Black or Blue) are compulsory Terms 1 and 4.
Students are permitted to wear any tidy plain black leggings, skirts, skorts, trousers or shorts – NO denim jeans/skirts/shorts.
Plain sensible shoes (such as sneakers or sandals) that the student can put on/take off themselves preferably black or white in colour – No boots, crocs or jandals/thongs.
Socks are to be plain black, blue or white socks – NO long socks.
Students can wear plain black, blue or white short sleeve thermals or singlets under their school polo in winter months.
All uniform items are to be clearly named. Student’s name can be embroidered under the logo (or on the back of hats) in black, yellow or white cotton on school uniform. Contact the school office for further clarification.